Archibald Thomson [18320] ¹

   Cause of his death was chronic nephritis (uraemia) with myocardial degeneration.

   FamilySearch ID: MB69-6LY.

  Death Notes:

Witness to his death was Margaret Thomson, niece, who resided at 3
Old Meldrum Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1861, Hillside Of Foudland, Carniston Over Boddam, Parish Of Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. ³

• Other: Cited in Evening Gazette artic, 1906 Nov 26, Corgarff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. ⁴ The Evening Gazette1, Monday November 26,1906.

Golden Wedding at Corgarff -
Presentations to Mr and Mrs McHardy.

One of what has proved the most successful gatherings ever held in
the glen came off on Friday in the celebration of the golden wedding
of Mr and Mrs
James McHardy, Burnside. When it was known that the interesting
event was at hand, a committee consisting of Rev. Mr. Thomson, Messrs
James
Coutts, Badnabeen; Morrison, Hotel; Tait, Ordgarff; Dunbar,
Haughton; McDonald, jun., Tornahaish, and D.J. Philip, Garchory,
arranged for
subscriptions being collected, and the result was that Mr and Mrs
McHardy were presented in the hall with a handsome oak framed
barometer and
thermometer, gold broach, and a purse of sovereigns and a silver
teapot from thir family and several other gifts from friends. Mr and
Mrs McHardy who
are still both hale and hearty, are aged 71 and 69 respectively,
and were married in the church of Corgarff on November 23, 1856, by
Rev. Mr Forbes,
and for the last 45 years they have resided at the farm of
Burnside. During the other 5 years Mr McHardy was gamekeeper to the
late Lord Sempill (then
Sir William Forbes). They had a family of 4 sons and 2 daughters.
One boy died young, and of the others Alexander is head keeper on
Candacraig
Estate; James is a keeper on the Haddo House Estate; Charles is at
home with his father. The oldest daughter is married to Mr Glennie,
carpenter, and the
youngest to Mr William Keir, commercial traveller. Their
grandchildren number 28, the most of whom are alive, one being
married (James Keir) and a
teacher in the south. Another, Alexander Keir, is a teacher in
China.

On the kind invitation of Mr and Mrs McHardy
the older people, to the number of about 30, assembled at the hall at
4pm,
where a sumptuous repast awaited them. The
barometer bore the following inscription :- 'Presented, along with
apurse
of sovereigns and gold broach, to Mr and Mrs
McHardy, Burnside, on the occasion of their golden
wedding, by the inhabitants of Corgarff and a
few friends, to indicate to them and their posterity,
the esteem and goodwill which exists in the
parish towards them. Corgarff, November 23, 1906.' In
making the presentation Mr Thomson said:- We
have met here this afternoon to do honour to two people, who in
wedlock
have done honour to themselves and to their
native parish. Fifty long years ago they joined hands before the
alter, and there
vowed that through weal or woe they would be
leal and true to each other.

Left: The barometer on the wall in Ontario,
Canada where it now resides. With thanks to Pat Weir
(nee MacHardy)
During that long period of wedded life they have battled bravely
with the trials, and enjoyed the sunshine that flows from the happy
union of hearts,
bearing and forebearing with each other. I have been asked, and
right willingly have I complied, to present to each of you a gift, a
tangible token of the
high esteem and goodwill reigning in the Strath towards you. I have
now the pleasure to present in the name of the people of Corgarff,
and a few friends,
to you Mr McHardy, this barometer, with the fond wish that years
and years may be yours to enjoy it, and study it's prophecies. It
gives me even greater
pleasure - were that possible - because of my great regard for
mothers, to present you, Mrs McHardy, in the name of the same
company, this gold neck
ornament. Along with these tokens of esteem and regard I have the
honour to present you with a purse of sovereigns, and from the bottom
of our hearts
we ask the Giver of All to make the evening of your lives calm and
pleasant.

Mr McHardy who was visibly affected, in a few words suitably
replied. Tea was then served. Afterwards, on the call of the chairman
(Mr Thomson) Mr
Wattie, banker, in proposing the health of Mr and Mrs McHardy,
said:- I have great pleasure in asking you to drink the toast of the
evening, the health of
our esteemed friends, Mr and Mrs McHardy, on this the occasion of
their golden wedding. Mr McHardy is descended from a family of good
law abiding
citizens. His ancestors have, I understand, been tenants of
Burnside for hundreds of years, and I do not think our friend has
fallen off in any way. The
large and representative gathering here shows the high esteem in
which Mr and Mrs McHardy are held by the community, and while
congratulating them
upon this 50th anniversary of their wedding, it is our earnest wish
that in fair health and strength they may yet spend a good few years
together - cheers).
Mr James Tait proposed, in suitable terms, the health and
prosperity of the family and grandchildren, and Mr Alexander McHardy
replied. At this point
Mr A. McHardy in the name of the family, handed Mr and Mrs McHardy
a purse of sovereigns. Several other toasts were proposed, and the
evening
wound up with a dance.


With thanks to Rachel and Jimmy Moir of Banchory for the above.

1The Evening Gazette was a newspaper owned by the Aberdeen Free
Press. When the Free Press and the Aberdeen Journal combined to form
the Press & Journal it was decided
that only one evening paper would survive. The Evening Gazette lost
out, we still to this day have the survivor from the Aberdeen Journal
camp being the Evening Express.